The Long, Remarkable Life of Field Marshal von Mackensen

As Most Recognized in His Death's Head Hussar Busby

August Anton Ludwigt von Mackensen was one of the most famous and successful German commanders during the First World War. He was engaged on the Eastern Front and campaigned in Russian Poland, Serbia, and Romania. He was born on 6 December 1849 in Haus Leipnitz, Kingdom of Prussia and died 8 November 1945 in Burghorn near Celle, British zone of occupation, having barely escaped capture by the Red Army.

Early Life

A Revealing Early Photo of Lt. von Mackensen

August von Mackensen (1849-1945), son of an estate manager, joined the Prussian Leib-Husaren Regiment Nr. 2 as a one-year volunteer in 1869 and took part in the Franco-Prussian War. After an interlude at the University of Halle, Mackensen reentered the army as a second lieutenant in 1873 and began an astonishing career. After a brief spell as adjutant of Alfred von Schlieffen (1833-1913), he was patronized by Wilhelm II, German Emperor (1859-1941). Mackensen served as his aide-de-camp from 1898 until 1901 and was ennobled in 1899.

World War I

The Progression from Junior Officer to Major General

The First World War found him initially active on the Eastern Front as commander of XVII. Corps attached to the Eighth Army. He took part in every major conflict in the east and would remain on that front for the war's duration. His XVII. Corps suffered an initial humiliating defeat to the Russians (Rennenkampf) at Gumbinnen, but they later took part in great success at both Tannenberg and the Masurian Lakes.

As commander of Army Detachment Mackensen and the Ninth Army, he successfully directed the siege of Warsaw and subsequent seizure of Lodz, for which he was awarded the Pour le Mérite.  

His Eleventh Army, which as part of the Army Group Mackensen-Kiev included Austro-Hungarian units, was based in the Dunajec sector of Galicia (1915) and successfully broke through the Russian lines at Gorlice-Tarnow, one of the greatest victories of the war. 

In June 1915, von Mackensen's troops were able to retake the Przemysl Fortress and helped Austria recapture the city of Lemberg (L'viv, Ukraine). He was then received the prestigious Order of the Black Eagle and was promoted to field marshal. 

He was also one of only five recipients of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1917). Following a successful stint in Serbia, he became commander of Army Group Mackensen-Romania (1916-18) under Falkenhayn and headed up the defeat and military occupation of Romania, where he remained until war's end. After the Armistice, von Mackensen was briefly held captive in Hungary and Salonika by the French, returning to Germany in 1919 and retiring from the Army one year later. 

After the War

Mackensen at a 1936 Event with Hitler and Goering (Rear)

During the Weimar Republic years, Mackensen used his lasting popularity as “never-defeated army leader”  to campaign for the monarchy and served as Wilhelm II’s representative on military and commemorative events. Wearing the uniform of the Leibhusaren with the Death’s Head busby and inumerous medals, the old general field marshal became a perfect instrument of Nazi propaganda after 1933. 

However,  Mackensen remained a committed monarchist and sometimes appeared at official functions in his World War I uniform. Memorably, at Kaiser Wilhelm II's funeral, he symbolically placed his field marshal's cloak over the coffin. Senior Nazi Party members suspected him of disloyalty, but nothing was proven against him. His sons served in the Second World War.  Hans was a Nazi diplomat, while his son Eberhard served as a general in the Wehrmacht and was later convicted of war crimes. He lived to witness the terminal catastrophe of the German Reich and was himself compelled to flee the Red Army.

Sources:  1914-1918 Online article by Friederike Höhn, University of Potsdam; Who's Who in World War One; Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst